I haven't really seen much talk about this... but I know there are 2 versions with 2 different front panels. As far as I know they sound identical... but am I wrong? Does anyone know more about the differences? Which version has more "heavy duty" switches? I assume the rocker switches are more robust than the push buttons.

Also... does anyone know if the wooden parts are real wood (like Sequential gear) or fake wood (like the Juno-60)?

8bit9bot wrote:I haven't really seen much talk about this... but I know there are 2 versions with 2 different front panels. As far as I know they sound identical... but am I wrong? Does anyone know more about the differences? Which version has more "heavy duty" switches? I assume the rocker switches are more robust than the push buttons.

Also... does anyone know if the wooden parts are real wood (like Sequential gear) or fake wood (like the Juno-60)?

The difference in sound between the two versions can be neglected. I compared them side-by-side, and I wouldn´t be able to tell them apart in a blindfolded test (but since I´m a tone-deaf psycho, what do I know?). I own the Mk. 2 version and I´ve always got the sound from it I wanted.

The rocker switches on the Mk. 1 are mechanically a bit sturdier but the Reticon SAD BBDs these used are nearly impossible to find (especially the 1024). There are decent replacements for the LED switches of the Mk. 2 available.

Stephen

"Like the light from distant stars, Stephen Parsick's music has existed for some time, but is only now reaching us on Earth." -- Chuck van Zyl / Star´s End

The rocker switches are much better than the push buttons IMO, the same rockers were used on the RS-505 and they are absolutely rock solid!

I have heard that the vocoder is different on the two models, the first revision has been described as having a more 'liquid' or 'vivid' sound.

To clarify, the mk1 has rocker switches and the mk2 has push buttons. I would absolutely love a mk1 VP-300. I have always wanted to find one and scrap that cheap plywood case. I would love to have a custom hardwood case built to contain both the VP and the RS in a similar style to a box or farfisa double stack

Replicants are like any other machine, they're either a benefit or a hazard. If they're a benefit, its not my problem.

ppg_wavecomputer wrote:the Reticon SAD BBDs these used are nearly impossible to find (especially the 1024).Stephen

Are these chips relevant to the ensemble circuit? Was there a mechanical difference between the mk1 and mk2 that improved the reliability/availability of certain chips?

Reticon SDA 512/1024 are the holy grails of BBD technology. These were used for the ensemble section of the Rev. 1 model. They were re-engineered for Panasonic MN BBDs on the Rev. 2. Hence, many people claim to hear a significantly different kind of character (which is more like hearing fleas cough, as we say in German).

The only mechanical difference is the type of keyboard used with Mk. 1 VPs as it´s the one used on the Jupiter 4 as well. Later, the keybed was also changed, as well as the switches.

Stephen

"Like the light from distant stars, Stephen Parsick's music has existed for some time, but is only now reaching us on Earth." -- Chuck van Zyl / Star´s End

ppg_wavecomputer wrote: The only mechanical difference is the type of keyboard used with Mk. 1 VPs as it´s the one used on the Jupiter 4 as well. Later, the keybed was also changed, as well as the switches.

Stephen

Ah yes, I almost forgot about the change of keyboard. did the mk2 utilise the same keyboard as the juno and jupiter models?[/quote]

I think so, it´s just an octave shorter.

Stephen

"Like the light from distant stars, Stephen Parsick's music has existed for some time, but is only now reaching us on Earth." -- Chuck van Zyl / Star´s End